1
as in compass
a guiding or motivating purpose or principle
with an unwavering commitment to equal rights for all as his only cynosure
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in center
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest
that company is the cynosure for anyone wishing to make it in the music business
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cynosure
From these beginnings, the Voice grew into a cynosure of the counterculture.
—
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
The film’s screenplay, co-written by Wenders and Takuma Takasaki, finds its metaphoric cynosure in the Japanese concept of komorebi, which describes the play of light and shadow through the leaves of a tree, every shimmering moment unique.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Oct. 2023
Past the age of fifty, the supple cynosure of the salons turned into something of a tottering wreck.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023
MotoGP is the cynosure for those drawn to the heady blend of terror and enticement that defines the quest to go mind-numbingly fast.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2023
As their cynosure, Ernestine herself remains a cipher, full of portentous sayings but little real thought.
—Helen Shaw, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2022
The setting had all the elements of a stirring, emotional clash: an underlying sense of betrayal, accusations of soulless greed, the prospect of transformative change and a popular, beloved figure trapped in the cynosure of the firestorm.
—Bill Pennington, New York Times, 16 June 2022
The Celtic cynosure in the 100-96 triumph, Tatum logged a team-best 26 points along with 10 rebounds and 6 assists while scoring 7 vital fourth-quarter points.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 30 May 2022
While the Sackler family, which owned Purdue, attracted intense national attention and became a cynosure of criticism after the company’s introduction of its blockbuster pill OxyContin, the Mallinckrodt brand slipped under the radar.
—Washington Post, 10 May 2022
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
The film’s screenplay, co-written by Wenders and Takuma Takasaki, finds its metaphoric cynosure in the Japanese concept of komorebi, which describes the play of light and shadow through the leaves of a tree, every shimmering moment unique.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Oct. 2023
Past the age of fifty, the supple cynosure of the salons turned into something of a tottering wreck.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023
MotoGP is the cynosure for those drawn to the heady blend of terror and enticement that defines the quest to go mind-numbingly fast.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2023
As their cynosure, Ernestine herself remains a cipher, full of portentous sayings but little real thought.
—Helen Shaw, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2022
The setting had all the elements of a stirring, emotional clash: an underlying sense of betrayal, accusations of soulless greed, the prospect of transformative change and a popular, beloved figure trapped in the cynosure of the firestorm.
—Bill Pennington, New York Times, 16 June 2022
The Celtic cynosure in the 100-96 triumph, Tatum logged a team-best 26 points along with 10 rebounds and 6 assists while scoring 7 vital fourth-quarter points.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 30 May 2022
While the Sackler family, which owned Purdue, attracted intense national attention and became a cynosure of criticism after the company’s introduction of its blockbuster pill OxyContin, the Mallinckrodt brand slipped under the radar.
—Washington Post, 10 May 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynosure
Noun
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The Library of Virginia's nature backpacks include a free parking pass for most Virginia State Parks, pocket guides, a bug field observation container, a magnifying lens, a dip net, a compass, and binoculars.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
17 Apr. 2025
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The business's mission is its compass, not to be distracted by too much attention to competitors.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
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This is a small fraction of the power needed to support data centers.—
Ian Dexter Palmer,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Cartwright had been staying in the mill overnight with employees and armed reservists from the Cumberland militia, one of many military units dispatched to centers of unrest.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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So, one way to fix this is, fertilizing in spring with a citrus fertilizer, according to label directions.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2025
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Hopkins said fire department personnel also monitor the outside air and wind direction, knowing that homes downwind are likely to smell the gas and call the fire department with concerns.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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There’s no shortage of wealth moving to Frankfurt, either, with the German city capitalizing on London’s tarnished reputation as a money-making mecca since Brexit.—
Zoë Dare Hall,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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The Neales described the Smoke Freaks headquarters as a mecca for barbecuing, grilling and smoking with 24 different pieces of equipment, from a big Texas offset smoker to 55-gallon metal drums.—
Anna Ortiz,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The name’s ironic on purpose—the app allows users to create, send, and receive anonymous voice messages in a celebrity’s tone.—
Alexandra York,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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Sources: Human Rights Watch, World Resources Institute In Sub-Saharan Africa, how women’s education influences family size Policymakers may use population projections for a variety of purposes, from planning social welfare programs to preparing for climate change.—
Troy Aidan Sambajon,
Christian Science Monitor,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
On the other side of the Nile, which runs through the capital, Babakir Khalid, 2 months old, gasped for breath.—
Declan Walsh,
New York Times,
19 Apr. 2025
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The pilot eventually managed to land the airplane outside Belize City after being forced to circle the airspace between northern Belize and the capital.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Kansas City Star (660) 254-1083 Kendrick Calfee covers breaking news for The Kansas City Star with a focus on public safety.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2025
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Moving the focus to North America, Someone Lives Here follows Toronto carpenter Khaleel Seivwright, who builds tiny shelters for unhoused people during the pandemic and faces pushback from city officials.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Charlotte City Council approved an $89 million plan in 2023 to build a new underground bus hub at the site of the current transit center.—
Jeff A. Chamer,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Apr. 2025
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The Cerrado is governed by much laxer environmental laws than the Amazon, and has become a major hub for soybean production.—
Sarah Sax,
The Atlantic,
16 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cynosure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynosure. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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